March 20th lab results

Well once again this week we got bad news regarding Ashlyne's labs. Her liver (ALT) is now up to 176, 31 is the highest they want to see. Good news her white cell count is up to 4.1/2100, which is very good and means no more face masks at this time. Dr Z is removing her from her immunosuppressant 6mp and ran a gamut of blood work and urinalysis on Thursday to try to determine for sure whether the 6mp is the cause or something else. Logic tells him it is the 6mp. We will not have results back for about a week as the 6mp test is sent to San Diego CA and takes a while to get results. Dr Z says unless something else is determined to be causing the liver to be so high he will recommend putting her on remicade. The one drug we have been trying to avoid due to the risk of lymphoma and high rate of infection that this drug causes. http://www.remicade.com/remicade/global/index.html

Ashlyne also saw a primary physician to confirm that she is not experiencing any other infections/illnesses that might be the cause. Dr Haberle did not find anything else wrong with Ashlyne.

Needless to say this is not good. There are so many questions and concerns. If Ash is non symptomatic at this time is Remicade ultimately the best decision. She has been unstable since she started on the medications (last June) and not until she was put on the restrictive diet did she get healing and go non symptomatic. Has diet been the controlling force? Once Ashlyne starts Remicade there is no going back, if you do not continue the treatments every 6-8 weeks the body will build antibodies against the treatment and you will become allergic and not be able to use this treatment. Remicade is the level 3 medication, there is not level 4, there is no where to go from here. She is 12 years old, what does this mean when she is 20, 30, 50, 60? What is the long term affect on her development, she is prepubescent and there are no long term studies on girls on this medication for long periods of time?

Please pray right now and whenever you think of my little girl and ask God for clear and decisive treatment if it is not His will to heal her. Pray as parents we can come together and agree on her treatment path. Pray for her current and future health. Pray for her strength to handle all this.

In His Grip,
Wendy

Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Matthew 18:19-20 19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."